Switch.



T. E. SMITH.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1917.

1,300,665. Patented Apr. 15,1919. /yj

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. SMITH, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO ENDERT TRAFFIC SIGNAL COMPANY, OF BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALI- FOBNIA.

SWITCH.

Specication of Letters Patent.

yPatented. Apr. 15, 1919.

Application filed June 18, 1917. Serial No. 175,345.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los ,Angeles, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical switches and relates particularly to a switch adapted for use in connection with signals or indicators. Although I do not limit my invention to such particular uses, I explain my switch in its use as a control switch for an automobile signal or direction indicator.

One of the particular objects of lmy invention is t0 provide a switch of simple design, construction and operation; and to provide a switch whose operation is of a simple and natural character. In accomplishing this object I provide a switch completely actuated through the medium of a single handle; diii'erent movements of this handle causing different actuations of the switch mechanism. For instance, in an automobile direction indicator it is desirable to have an indicator mechanism Vwhich is capable of signaling Stop, Right and Left. In coperation with such a signal, my switch is arranged so that a rearward movement of the handle will cause the Yactuation of the switch mechanism to show the signal Stop, While a movement, preferably of rotation of the handle to the right or left will cause the signal mechanism to show the indication Right7 or Left.

i Further objects of my invention, and the invention itself, will now be best understood from the following detailed description of a preferred specific form of switch embodying the invention. For the purpose of this indicative specication I refer to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved switch; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan thereof; Fig. 3 is a detail section taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 1; Fig. liris a detail section taken as indicated by line 4 4: on Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a top plan of the switch; Fig. 6 is a plan showing the switch within its case; and Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating the electrical connections of the switch.

I provide a convenient base 10, preferably of sheet metal, having securing lugs 11 by which the switch may be fastened to any anism 12 comprises three stationary contacts 15, 16 and 17 and a movable switch arm 18, the movable arm being mounted upon a switch rod 19 mounted in a bearing block 2O and bearing member 20a and adapted to be movable both rotatively and longitudinally. A torsion spring 21 is placed around rod 19 and has its ends 21n and 21b depending on opposite sides of a member 22 set on the rod and on opposite sides of a member 23 on the base 10. Rotation of the rod in either Vdirection causes one end of the spring to be carried around by member 22 Vwhile the other is held by member 23; and the spring thus acts to return the rod toits normal position regardless of t-he direction of rotation.

The switch arm 18 projects above the switch rod 19 and also slightly below the switch rod 19, as shown at 18a; and when the handle'19a is pulled out in the direction indicated, this lower part'18a of the switch rod rides upon the raised outer end 17a of the stationary contact 17 making electrical connection therewith. When the parts are in this position just described, then a screw, or other member shown at 24: on the rod 19 moves into a slot 25 in bearing block 20 to prevent the rotation of the switch arm when it is moved out longitudinally; so as to prevent the mechanism from being operated by longitudinal movement and by rotation at the same time. This -screw striking the end of the slot 25 alsolimits the outward movement of the rod to that amount of movement which is necessary to engage the part 18aL with the part 17a.

With the switch rod in its normal longitudinal position it may be rotated over to the right or left so that the normally upper end of the arm 18 will move over and strike either the stationary contact 15 or the stationary contact 16. Spring 21 opposes this movement and brings the switch mechanism back to its normal position when handle 23 isv released. It will be seen that, by simple and natural movements of the handle 23, the switch arm 18 may be engaged with any one of the stationary kcontacts 15, 16 and 17 Stationary contacts ,15, 16 and 17 are formed,

turned through a great angle to engage them.

The various wires 32, 33,34, 35, 36 and 37 make connections as follows: Wire 32 is connected to stationary contact wire 33 is connected to stationary contact 17; wire 35 is connected to stationary contact 16; wire 34 is connected through the block 30 and through a spring wire coil 34a to the switch arm 18. This coil 34a serves as an electrical connection and at the same time resiliently resists the outward movement of the switch rod. Wire 36 is connected to lamp 13 and wire 37 is connected to lamp V14; the other sides of these lamps being connected throughA wires 38 and 39 to ground at 40. For the purposes of this specification, and for purposes of explaining this switch invention, it

is not necessary to enter into the details of anrindicator mechanism norv to enter-into details of the circuits ofthose mechanisms.

These things are, generally, and in a preferred and specic form, explained in my application on automobile signals co-pend ing herewith, bearing Serial No. 175,344,

Yfiled June Y18, 1917. It willbe suflicient herein to say that the general circuitingrarrangement includes the connection of the wire 3 4 to a battery at 41, the other side of the battery` being preferably grounded atV 42.

signal'mechanism 'or mechanisms toA indicate Left ';"moving handle 19a back longitudinally and sending current out through wire 33 causes the signal mechanism to indicate Stop, and moving handle 19a to the right and sending current out through wire 35 causes Vthe signal mechanism to indicate Right. The handle 19a is arranged,

. in any particular placement of theswitch,

ltherefore do not limit myself Vto specific details and particular constructions as herein described, regarding this specific and particular construction as indicative of4 myY invention in its various possible forms;v The following claimsare therefore drawnk to .cover the invention broadly as.. Well as specifically.

a switch rod mounted thereon to be inde- Yversely across the end of the switch rod ex- -nally, and apair of stationary y rodand arm are rotated. Moving handle y19a to the left and sending f current out through the wire 32 causes the nally- Having described a preferred formfof my invention, I claim:

1. A switchVV mechanism, comprising a switch arm adapted. to'. be moved along av longitudinal axis and adapted tobe rotated in4 either direction of rotation 'about said axis, three stationaryA contacts arranged spacedly about said axis, one of said co-ntacts being longitudinally spacedvv from the other two in suchA arrangement that a longitudinal movement of said switch arm causes Y engagement with said first mentioned: contact and a rotation of saidgswitch a-rm causes engagement with either one or the other of the other two contacts, and means to prevent rotation of the switch arm when it is longitudinally moved from its normal position.

2. Aswitch mechanism embodying a base,

pendently longitudinally slidable and rotatable, spring means to oppose the longitudinalandV rotational movements o-f the switch rod,l a switchv arm lmounted transtending normally both above and below the switch rod, a stationaryV contact below the switch rod yin a position to be engaged by the lowerk end of the switch armwhenv the switch rod and. armV are moved longitudicontacts arranged.` at oppositesides of the switchv rod and with which the upper end of the switch arm` is adapted to engage when the switch Y 3. A switch mechanism embodying a base, a switch rod mounted thereon to be' independently longitudinally slidable vand rotatable, sp-ringmeans to oppose'the longitudinal' and'` rotational movements o-f the 105 IswitchV rod, a switch arm mounted transversely acrossthe 'end of the switch rod extending'normally both above andV below the switch rod, a stationary contact below the switch rod in a position tol be engaged by the lower end' of the switch arm when the switch rod and Yarm are moved longitudinally, a pair of stationary contacts arranged at opposite sides of the switch rod and with Ywhich the upper end of the switch arm is adapted to engage whenV the switchv rod and army are rotated, and" means to prevent rotation of the; switch rod' and arm when they y are moved longitudinally from their normal position. 12o

4. A switch mechanism, comprising a base, .z -g journalY 'blocks mounted on said base, a switch rod mounted in said'journal blocks and movable independently both longitudiand rotativel'y therein,. said longitudi- 125 nal movement being outward away from; the

base, spring meansconnected to the base and tof the switch rod to oppose longitudinal and rotative movements of the switch rod, means to prevent. rotation of the: switch; rodiwhen 130V it is moved outwardly from its-normal longitudinal position, said means embodying a projecting member on the switch rod and a slot in `one of the journal blocks adapted to be entered by said projecting member, a switch arm mounted transversely across the end of the switch rod and projecting both above and below the switch-rod in normal position, a stationary contact below the switch rod and arm and adapted to be engaged 'by the lower end of the switch arm when moved longitudinally outwardly, and a pair of stationary contacts arranged on horizontally opposite sides of the switch rod and adapted to be engaged by the upper end of the switch arm when rotated in one direction or the other.

5. A switch mechanism, comprising a base, journal blocks mounted on said base, a switch rod mounted in said journal blocks and movable independently both longitudinally and rotatively therein, said longitudinal movement being outward away from the base, spring means connected to the base and to the switch rod to oppose longitudinal and rotative movements of the switch rod, means to prevent rotation of the switch rod when it is moved outwardly from its normal longitudinal position, said means embodyin a projecting member on the switch rod and a slot in one of the journal blocks adapted to be entered by said projecting member, a switch arm mounted transversely across the end of the switch rod and projecting both above and below the switch rod in normal position, a stationary contact below the switch rod and arm and adapted to be engaged by the lower end of the switch arm when moved longitudinally outwardly, a pair of stationary contacts arranged on horizontally opposite side-s of the switch rod and adapted to be engaged by the upper end of the switch arm when rotated in one direction or the other, and a contact carrying block in which the three stationary contacts are mounted and carried.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 11th day of June, 1917.

THOMAS E. SMITH.

Copie! of this patent may be obtained for ve cent1 elch, by lddreuing the Comminionor of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

